Customer Reviews

Graves, Worms and Epitaphs

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I loved this book. J.W. Kerr devises another riveting adventure
for Lieutenant Anson Hilderbrand in his new novel, Graves, Worms,
and Epitaphs. Kerr presents Hilderbrand with a chilling mystery to solve and Hilderbrand does not disappoint the readers. It's
a tale of murder, and solving it takes this hard hitting Lieutenant on a road of surprising twists and turns. Kerr gives
the readers a fast, hard ride as he takes them from beginning to end with his unmatchable style. It's hard to put the book down
once you start to read. Each sentence moves the story along.
It's a great read. I'm looking forward to more books by this author.

In the 12/16/01 Lansing State Journal, by Ray Walsh
"The Devil and Lieutenant Hilderbrand" and "Graves, Worms and Epitaphs," by J. W. Kerr, are the initial entries in a new series showcasing Houston police officer Anson Hilderbrand.

The first book, dealing with an obsessive contract killer, has just been released as a paperback; the second focuses on a cop-killer who's involved in a scheme where runaway teens are paid to appear in dirty movies.

The novels are full of fast-paced dialogue reminiscent of Robert Parker, moving smoothly through well-scripted plots. Kerr shows real promise with a few shocking plot twists that raise his mysteries above those that are simply average.

What do you do when you lose your best friend and the murderer is protected by the law it is your job to serve? This is the key question in this continuation of the adventures of Lieutenant Hilderbrand in this second installment, Graves, Worms and Epitaphs. Hilderbrand's right-hand man and friend of many years, Herman, is shot through the temples. So the hunt, and it is a hunt, begins for the mysterious and slippery suspects.

I read the predecessor to this work, The Devil and Lieutenant Hilderbrand, which is a kind of required read to fully understand the importance of this work, and I have to say the development of Kerr's skill is visible. Where The Devil plied its trade with fashioned Texan dialogue and characters, much of Graves is actually compelling action and emotional scenes. While there was still enough dialogue to satisfy the characterization, even a bit too much, the scenes described in this book are much more artfully done.

Where Kerr really succeeds here is in dealing with the real dilemmas of the police office and the development of Hilderbrand as a character, himself. What I found here was an author that had become very comfortable with his main and was able to use him to make a more touching and enjoyable thriller that really told a human story. This comes out in the end, which, while it may not be an ethical ending or a reasonable action, is, in fact, the culmination of the events of the story.

If you read The Devil and Lieutenant Hilderbrand, this is a must read. If not, Graves, Worms and Epitaphs is a worthy police and mystery novel with compelling characters that will stick with you for a long time to come.